From the Superintendent…..

As we begin 2018, things are changing in Atchison County Community Schools. This

year marks a significant change in membership of the USD 377 Board of Education.

Three members, Jeff Martin- 12.5 yrs, Steve Meeks – 8.5 yrs and Tana Hoffman – 4.5

yrs, decided to have their tenures come to end, ushering in the opportunity for three

new members to fill their seats. Not only will three new members join the board in Jan-

uary, it will be the first time that such a change will occur at this point in the year.

In 2015, the Kansas Legislature passed HB 2104, changing local election dates, includ-

ing school board elections. Previously school board general elections were held in the

spring of odd-numbered years, with the new members taking their seats in July with

the new fiscal year. The new law required these elections to be held on the Tuesday fol-

lowing the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years, with their term begin-

ning at the mid-year point in January. At the monthly January meeting, the new board

will be electing a new Vice-President as well as appointing members to other delegate

positions.

The three new members joining the Board in January are Kelli Bottorff, Lori Lanter and

Corey Neill. Kelli Bottorff was elected as the member for position # 4, serving the por-

tion of Lancaster & Shannon Townships in Atchison County, the portion of Grasshop-

per lying North of the South edge of Township Five and that contiguous portion of

Doniphan County which is in USD 377. Kelli and her husband Justin, have two chil-

dren that attend Atchison County Community Schools, Max who is in 4th grade and Ma-

son who is in 2nd grade. Lori Lanter was elected for position #6, serving the portions of

Kapioma and Benton townships in Atchison County, the portion of Grasshopper lying

South of the South edge of Township Five and those contiguous portions of Jackson

and Jefferson counties which are in USD 377. Lori and her husband Wes, have two chil-

dren that attend Atchison County Community Schools, Emma who is in 6th grade and

Austin who is in 2nd grade. Corey Neill was elected as the member for position #5, serv-

ing Walnut, Mt. Pleasant and Center Townships of Atchison County and that contigu-

ous portion of Jefferson County which is in USD 377. Corey and his wife Megan, have

three sons, Ashton who is in 4th grade and August who is in 1st grade at Atchison County

Community Schools, and Elias who is 4.

As the second semester begins, all of the members of the USD 377 Board of Education are focused on providing the best education for all students that attend Atchison Coun-ty Community Schools. If you see any former, new or current USD 377 Board of Educa-tion members please thank them for the work that they do for all of the students of Atchison County Community Schools.

“ W h e r e S u c c e s s i s M e a s u r e d O n e

S t u d e n t a t a T i m e ”

Unified School District #377 Atchison County

Community Schools

E f f i n g h a m , K S J a n u a r y 2 0 1 8

B O A R D O F

E D U C A T I O N

O F F I C E

(913) 833-5050

Dr. Andrew Gaddis, Supt.

JSH School

Principal: Deanna Scherer

(913) 833-2240

Elementary School

Principal: Mandi McMillan

(913) 833-4420

Board of Education Members

Nancy Keith

President

(913) 833-5075

Kelli Bottorff

(913) 669-3817

Barbara Chapman

(913) 360-9335

Lori Lanter

(913) 370-5889

Stephanie Moore

(989) 903-5322

Corey Neill

(913) 426-0769

Greg Smith

(913) 370-7700

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28

29

30 31

FR/JV/VBB (H) RV

4:30pm

Lions Club Dinner

V Scholar’s Bowl @

P-Ridge 4pm

JHBBB (H) RV

4:30pm

FR/JV/VBB (H)

Riverside 4:30pm

JSH Band Dinner

VWR @ Central

Heights 5pm

VBBB @ VF

JV/VWR @ Atchison

5:30pm

VGBB @ JCN

JVBB @ JW 9am

Martin Luther King

Day

No Classes

JHBBB @ JW 4:30pm

FFA Speech Contest @

Marysville 9am

JV/V Scholar’s Bowl @

Holton 4pm

JHBBB (H) Hiaw.

4:30pm

JHBBB @ Perry

Lecompton 4:30pm

Elem Pictures

VWR (H) 5:30pm

Parents Night

King/Queen of Mats

After Prom Dinner

JV Scholar’s Bowl @

Oskaloosa 4:15pm

JHBBB @ Holton 4:30pm

VWR @ Rossville

9am

JHBBB (H) Riverside

4:30pm

BOE Mtg. 6:30pm

Elem STUCO Blood

Drive @ JSH

Commons 2-6pm

Vo-Tech Spring

Classes Start

3rd GR Field Trip

After Prom Mtg. @

JSH Library 6pm

Christmas Break

No Classes FR/JV/VBB @

Perry Lecompton

4:30pm

VBBB @ VF

VWR @ Paola 1pm

K-State Concert

Band Clinic 3pm

JVWR @ Holton

3:30pm

VGBB @ JCN

Washburn JR Day

Christmas Break

No Classes

Professional Day

No Classes

After Prom Mtg. @

JSH Library 6:30pm

Classes Resume

V Scholar’s Bowl @

Cair Paravel 4pm

JHBB @ Sabetha

4:30pm

VWR @ D-West Dual

5:30pm

VBBB @ VF

K-State Concert

Band Clinic 3pm

K-State

Concert

Band Clinic

3pm

VGBB @ JCN

VWR @ Atchison

SH Forensics @

Sabetha 8am

JHBBB (H) Sabetha

4:30pm

FR/JV/VBB (H)

Nemaha Central

4:30pm

JSH Band Dinner

January 2018 Page 3

BOE News and Highlights

The USD 377 Board of Education met in regular

session on Monday, December 11 at 6:30 at the

Board of Education Office.

Recognitions/Presentation:

John Livingston-News Press Athlete of the Week;

Makaea Forbes-News Press Athlete of the Week;

Katie Beien-News Press Athlete of the Week, All

News Press Volleyball, Atchison Globe Top-Six

Volleyball; Tucker Smith-All News Press Football

Team, Atchison Globe Top-11 Football, Wichita

Eagle All-State Football.

Consent Agenda:

Approved as presented.

Leadership Reports:

Superintendent’s Report-KASB Conference Report;

Striving Readers Grant, Achieve-Assessment Eval-

uation Tool; Board Member Assignment Needs;

New Board Member Meetings; Custodial Vacan-

cies; Stipend-Thank Yous; Budget Cuts.

The next board of education meeting will be held

on January 8th in the Board Office at 6:30pm.

Please go to usd377.org for

monthly Breakfast and Lunch menus!

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department

of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the

USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions

participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibit-

ed from discriminating based on race, color, national origin,

sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil

rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded

by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of

communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large

print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact

the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disa-

bilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at

(800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be

made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the

USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027)

found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/

complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a

letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the

information requested in the form. To request a copy of the

complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed

form or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail: :U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Wash-

ington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) Email:

program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

PARENTS AS TEACHERS NEWS

When you join PAT we will schedule a convenient

time and place to visit with you. It lasts about one

hour and includes all the family members who

would like to participate. We will bring you infor-

mation about your child and we will encourage

and support you on your parenting journey.

If you are pregnant or have a child under 3,

please contact Elize Cilliers at (620) 388-1825 for

more information about this free program.

January 2018 Page 4

JSH News by Deanna Scherer

It’s January and it’s 2018. My, where did the year of 2017 go? The anticipation, anxiety, and glitter of the Christmas season has come and gone and now the har-mony of the cold temperature, glistening snow, and the long, dark nights sings to us during this first month of the new year. Resolutions fill our heads as we decide what’s important for us to change or work towards---changing our spending habits, changing our diet habits, or changing our attitude and approach towards others. I often read the words of Trent Loos who blogs at www.LoosTales.com who wrote recently of two great joys he experiences at Christmas Time---the privilege of having mail so that he can receive beautiful Christmas cards and pictures in the good old mailbox filled by the US Postal Service and the second is the joy in finding a perfect gift for the person we care about the most. He cited the song “Joy to the World” as a holiday favorite, one which reminds us to find joy in all things--seasons and reasons for happiness. Reading his words gave me inspiration and a reminder that giving and doing for others is rewarding. Let’s take a look back at a few national and ACCJSH events that gave us a smile --(disclaimer: there were many and there isn’t enough room to name them all---these are just a few examples and may not apply to eve-ryone) January, 2017: *Students from ACCJSH attended the KSU Concert Band Clinic and King and Queen of Mats Coronation honors were given to Karina Johnson and Dylan Birkin-sha. *President Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the USA . February, 2017: *Scholars bowl team wrapped up their season in St. Marys at the Regional Meet . *Makaea Forbes represented the girls wrestling pro-gram winning her weight class in the McPherson tourna-ment. *Hunter Ostertag brings home the gold from State Wrestling in Hays . *King and Queen of Courts was announced with Ryder McAlexander and Maddison Hetherington an-nounced as royalty. *Adele wins the Grammy award for Best Song, Hello, and Best Album, 2025. March, 2017: *Shelby Burge represented the county at the Region-al Spelling Bee in Topeka. *Talking Tigers hosted a Forensics tournament with over 300 participants. *Spring Break found Ty Ellerman and Augie Scholz serving the community of Ashland, KS after fires de-stroyed property and livestock. The FFA donated to Clark County in their time of need. *Disney releases their newest live action remake of Beauty and the Beast featuring Emma Watson as Belle. April, 2017: *HS Band and Vocal students represent the district at State Large Group Music in Atchison--band brings home a I rating. *I ratings earned at State Music in Gypsum--Cameron Cooper, Michael Moeck, Kolten Coy, Mercedez Albright, Britney Haynes, and Maddison Felton. *The movie Fate of the Furious was released with the

highest grossing weekend revenue of $532K. May, 2017: *ACCHS graduates thirty five; Jacob Chalfant, Savan-na Cohorst, Ashley Pieper, and Grace Marie Tucking receive valedictorian and salutatorian honors. *ACCHS retires Dean Swafford and John Flores, long time teachers and coach. USD 377 retires Steve Wiseman as superintendent . *Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg received an Honorary Harvard Degree after having once dropped out from this prestigious college. June, 2017: *Emily Wood and Ty Ellerman represented the AC-CHS FFA chapter at the state convention in Manhattan where they were named as one of the top 5 chapters in Officer Challenge. Jacob Chalfant, Madison Hethering-ton, and Spencer McNerny received their state degrees. *The Amazing World of Dr. Suess museum opened in Springfield, MA . July, 2017: *USD 377 brings Dr. Andrew Gaddis in as the new school superintendent. *Amazon founder Jeff Bezos briefly became the world’s richest man at $91.4 billion, overcoming Bill Gates for ½ of a day. August, 2017: *ACCJSH welcomes students back to school and introduces the Class of 2018 as the senior class at the high school. 7th grade students coming in will be the class of 2023. *Total solar eclipse was available for viewing in North America. September, 2017: *Victoria Caplinger runs at state 3A cross country finishing in the top 30. *Homecoming 2017 royalty went to Erin Hamilton and Luke Miller. *Hurricane Irma became the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history with winds up to 185 mph. October, 2017: *Katie Beien, Victoria Caplinger, Sara Johnson, Karlie Parnell, and Tucker Smith earned All Big 7 League hon-ors for their fall sports. *7th grade girls basketball team went undefeated and was named Big 7 Junior High champions. *Albert Einstein’s note, the Theory of Happiness, written originally as a thank you note for a bellboy in Tokyo in 1922, sells for 1.56K at auction November, 2017: *NHS students host a well attended Veterans Day ceremony to recognize the contribution of our veterans to our nation. *Basketball and Wrestling seasons begin for high school teams--new coaches abound. *Houston Astros win their first baseball world se-ries, defeating the LA Dodgers in Game 7 at Dodger stadium. December, 2017: *ACCHS basketball hosts Atchison High in a season opener. *Kays club hosts over 80 senior citizens in their annual Holiday Dinner. *First pizza party in space held by astronauts of the International Space Station.

January 2018 Page 5

ATCHISON COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CLOSURE FAQ

During the winter months, a possibility always exists of school closures and/or schedule changes due to inclement weather. Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about emergency school closures. Q: When are decisions made about school closures and how will I know? A: The district makes every effort to decide and announce decisions to close schools before 6 a.m. The planning and review process actually begins the night before. Once a decision is made, a message will be sent to USD 377 families via our eNotes notification system (text & email). Local media will be notified of the closure. The district’s website as well as social media sites, Facebook and Twitter, are also updated.

eNotes sign up: http://www.usd377.org/enote_portal_account USD 377 Webpage: http://www.usd377.org/ Local Media: KAIR, KNZA, KLZA, WIBW, KCTV5, KSNT, KTKA, KTMJ, WDAF, FOX4

If school is dismissed early, your emergency contact information collected during school registration is used to contact you. Make sure your phone numbers and email are up to date in PowerSchool. Q: What factors go into the decision? A: Weather and road conditions are checked throughout School District beginning the night before anticipated inclement weather. The school district gathers as much information as possible before making a decision. District officials monitor ongoing weather reports, road conditions and local / state law enforcement agencies. District transportation officials will provide a recommendation before 5 a.m. to the superintendent responsible for making the final decision after a thorough review of all available data collected. Q: How can I make sure my student is safe? A: Since parents are the primary protectors they will need to decide what is best for their children. The option to keep children home when weather conditions are extreme is always at the parent's discretion and the school un-derstands and respects the decision. Parents are urged to make arrangements at the beginning of each school year for their children in case of school closures. Parent contact information, including work phone numbers, should be kept up-to-date in PowerSchool. Q: What about school bus transportation when the weather is bad? A: All bus stops will be serviced in inclement weather unless an emergency announcement is made via the local media, district Website and eNotes. In inclement weather, buses may run late for a variety of reasons. Prepare your child, in suitable clothing, to wait additional time at the bus stop, (usually less than 15 minutes). Parents should have a contingency plan in the event that a bus is running extremely late or breaks down before reaching the bus stop. Discuss with your child what to do and who to call if the bus does not arrive. Have a neighbor, or reliable student "buddy" at the same stop that can help. Answers to Additional Questions can be found at: http://www.usd377.org/98571_2

January 2018 Page 6

What’s Happening in Fourth Grade?

It was a very busy first semester in the 4th grade. We were able to have Mr. Stephen Caplinger come talk to us about the history of the Effingham area. He was generous enough to come back another day and take us all on a walking tour around town. We made many stops and learned a great deal of history. For our next adventure, we performed a Read-er’s Theatre production of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in November. We were joined by parents, board members, Dr. Gaddis, and Mrs. McMillan as well as other elementary teach-ers. The kids enjoyed practicing and perform-ing for such a large audience. It was standing

room only, and the kids did a wonderful job! December began with a field trip to the Topeka Per-forming Arts Center. We attended the performance of The Nutcracker ballet. The kids had read the story before going, and they looked forward to seeing it told through dance. Throughout the performance, they were amazed and enchanted. The 4th graders also took a field trip down to the Sen-ior Citizens Center in Decem-ber. We

brought an ornament to decorate together and left it for each senior to take home with them. The kids were very excited to see family and friends there as well as to make some new friends. They had a great time spreading joy in the community.

Students also took part in a talent show with Mr. Snyder and Mrs. Watkins. We had a terrific time practicing a line dance to perform for the rest of the student body. They had so much fun that they asked the audience to get up and dance right along with them! Christmas parties brought the semester to an end. The kids left with some great experiences under their belt, and much an-ticipation for the coming semester.

January 2018 Page 7

SNAPSHOTS OF ATCHISON COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Keegan Lott and Ally

Peterson represented our

school at the NEK Music

Educator’s MS Honor

Band Clinic.

Caleb Miller—Patriot’s Pen Winner!

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3 The next Board

of Education

Meeting is

scheduled for

January 8th

@ 6:30 pm.

USD #377 is currently

looking for individuals to

fill substitute positions for

Teacher, Food Service,

Teacher Aide, Custodial and Bus

Driver. If you would like to apply for

a substitute position, please apply

online at usd377.org under job list-

ing. USD #377 does not discrimi-

nate on the basis or race, color, na-

tional origin, sex, disability or age.

Three outgoing board members where recognized

at the December 11th board meeting. Pictured be-

low are Jeff Martin (12 yrs), Steve Meeks (8.5 yrs)

and Tana Hoffman (4.5 yrs).